The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-06
What the Physicians Say.

not sent for until afternoon.
What the Physicians Say.
To the Western Associated Press.
NEW YORK, March 5.-To-morrow's World
will have the following The chances OF Mr..
Beechet's recovery are stated by DR.. William S.
Searle, his family physician, in the following
words: "He may live day, and he may live
week, and there is bare possibility that he
may survive the shock, but his full mental and
bodily faculties can never be restored" Mr.
Beecher's illness was altogether unexpected He
was in his usual good health up to last
Thursday evening. He ate light sup
per, consisting of half dozen roast
CLAIMS, and spent the evening playing
backgammon with Mrs Beecher. He retired
early and did not complain of feeling unwell.
He. however. appeared restless after lying down,
so much so that he attracted the attention Of his
wife. He told her that he had been suffering
with severe headache all night, an affection to
which he is a comparative stranger. He vom-
tied profusely, and said he felt little
better Shortly after he fell asleep, and
slept without a break until $50 o'clock
Friday afternoon. He was not disturbed
during this time as it has been his habit for
years to sleep in that manner when out of sorts.
He was accustomed to say that sleep was one of
his grandeet remedies
DR.. Hutchinson was called by Mrs. Beecher.
The Doctor said to reporter II reached the
house at $50 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and
found Mr.. Beecher sleeping His appearance
was quite natural, although l thought his face
was drawn somewhat to the right side. The
skin, especially of his extremities. was cool, but
not cold. easily aroused Mr.. Beecher, and he
was perfectly conscious. ] said to him: You
have slept SO long that your wife became wor-
ried and sent for me.
"'Yes, he responded. Il have slept good while.
I've been dreaming 1t was rather pleasant
sort Of dream, too. You know l have always
been great dreamer"
"'What was your dreamf l asked.
"I thought was the reply, that had been
made duke and my wife duchess. dreamed
we had large amount Of property invested in
British consols, and I've been trying all night to
figure out the income. You know, Doctor. that
arithmetic has always been . great source of
trouble to me-"
The Doctor continued: ~ took my patients
pulse. It was about eighty, and l thought it
was too full and too hard. He was lying on his
back, and he moved all his limbs with apparent
freedom His symptoms were much the same as
he has been accustomed to in attacks of indiges-
ton or biliousness, and both myself and the
family concluded that nothing more serious was
threatened. prescribed appropriate remedies
and left, not having been in the house
more than half an hour. / called
again, however, at 10 o'clock the same
evening. At that time found the pulse much
better; it was softer. and somewhat reduced in
frequency. I observed, however, that Mr..
Beechers articulation was thick. He seemed
seemed, on the whole, better than in the after
noon. / was however, apprehensive that his
condition was more serious than it appeared
on the surface, and when / left
it was with the injunction that I be
called at once if there any change in the pa
TENTS condition. Mr.. Beecher's son William
stayed at the bedside with his mother till mid
night and then retired. Mrs. Beecher was on
the alert all night long The family did not see
fit to call me till o'clock this morning, and the
moment arrived l saw that there had been
decided change for the worse. There was par
tia paralysis of the entire left side, it being
most marked in the arm and hand. The grasp
of the right hand was as vigorous as ever, but
that of the left was almost imperceptible. The
left leg was not as much paralyzsd the ARM
and the sensation of both arm and leg appeared
! perfect
"'Can you move your left hrmp asked Mr.
| Beecher.
sob. yes. he replied, I can touch my head
| with my hand
| ''He tried to do so, and found that he could
not, aud it seemed to annoy him. All this time
he was exceedingly drowsy. When asked
question he would reply, and
then drop into tho drowsy state.
| He was not in a comatose condition by
any means. His pupils were contracted,
but they responded well to the light. When
asked to put out his tongue, it was only partial
| ly produced, aud that with evident difficulty.
His temperature was then 90 degrees. about half
a degree above the normal His pulse was go,
when it is usually 70 to 70. His respiration was
normal and much like that of man partially
aroused from deep slumber He said
his head still panied him, that there
was boring pain in the right side
of his head, and his brain was sore.
Frequently he carried his right hand involun-
tarily to his head, where it panied. pro.
noupced his case one of apoplexy, and sent for
Prof. VIM. A. Hammond, of New York. took
Mrs Beecher and William aside and told them
how serious the case was. They were incredu-
lous at first. and thought it impossible. as the
symptoms were so much like wha. they had
been accustomed to IN times past. Mrs. Beecher
was overcome with grief when she fully realized